Valencia beat Betis to play Barca in Copa Del Rey final

Madrid, Mar 1 : Valencia booked their place in the Copa Del Rey final on Thursday night thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Betis, which gives them a 3-2 aggregate win in their Mestalla Stadium.

Both sides went into the return leg of the semi-final with special reasons to qualify for the final. Betis because the game will be played in their Benito Villamarin Stadium on May 25th, while Valencia want to lift the trophy in their centenary year.

The 2-2 draw in the first leg game gave Valencia an advantage as the away goals rule left Betis needing to score and the game saw both hands true to their respective styles of play. Betis looked to control the ball, while Valencia were content to sit deep and look for the pace of Rodrigo Moreno and Kevin Gameiro on the break.

Betis had more of the ball in an entertaining first half and Jese Rodriguez had the best chance when he ran onto a through ball, but shot straight at Jaume in the Valencia goal.

Rodrigo put Valencia ahead on the night in the 56th minute after Gameiro drew Betis keeper Joel before clipping the ball to his teammate to put it into the empty net. Betis central defender Mandi found himself playing almost as a centre forward at time and the Algerian had his side's best chance of the game, glancing a Joaquin header just wide.

The visitors were seeing a lot of the ball, but failed to create enough clear chances to get back into the tie, despite Loren Moron, who headed another opportunity wide, and Cristian Tello getting into the game - perhaps too late in Tello's case.

There were nerves among the fans in Mestalla in the closing minutes but Valencia will now play their first cup final in 11 years. Wednesday night saw Barcelona book their place in their sixth successive cup final with a 3-0 win away to Real Madrid to qualify 4-1 on aggregate.

Luis Suarez scored twice, while Rafael Varane scored and own goal to give Ernesto Valverde's side the chance to make history by becoming the first team ever in Spain to win the cup in five successive seasons. (XINHUA)